PODs
Release Date: 06/24/13
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Paperback/ebook
312 pages
Summary from Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.
After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.
Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.
After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.
Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.
He
flinched at the sound of my voice, snapping his laptop shut. Looking over his
shoulder, he smiled. “You look beautiful in the morning, Eva. Your blonde hair
messy and falling around your face, your eyes— not quite blue, but not quite
green— sparkling in the morning sun… or the simulation of the sun,” he said
with a crooked grin.
“Stop
joking around. What were you just looking at?” I’d seen the picture on his
laptop before he’d shut it. People running around their POD, a look of terror
in their eyes. I reached out and opened the lid of his computer. My arm brushed
against his, sending goosebumps racing across my skin. I had to concentrate to
remember what I was asking about. The screen was nothing but static. “They cut
off another one? Who?” I let go of his computer and started to pull my hand
away. He grabbed it, folding it into his own, threading our fingers together.
He grazed his lips over my knuckles.
Oh. Wow. Do that again.
My
insides swirled out of place and did things I’d only read about in my mother’s
racy romance novels.
“Yes.
Someone I know from class. You don’t know him. And who says I’m joking?”
“What?”
He was difficult to understand on a good day, but that early in the morning,
seeing him in nothing more than blue pajama bottoms, his lips moving against my
fingers as he talked, it was nearly impossible.
“You
told me to stop joking around. I wasn’t joking.”
My
heart was beating so hard and fast in my chest, I was sure he could hear it. I
pinched the bridge of my nose between my fingers. My fingernails bit into my
flesh.
Say something, Eva! Do Something—
anything. Just… something. “So…” I started, only to be interrupted by my yawn. Except yawn, idiot! Kiss him… wait… what?
“What’s
your theory on the PODs being cut off? Do you think there’s that many people
testing positive for the—”
He
stood, turned toward me, cupped his hand around the back of my neck and pulled
my lips to his. That shut me up. Shock slammed into me, quickly giving way to
pleasure, and pleasure to urgency.
I wrapped my arms around his neck, threading
my fingers through his silky hair. David’s hand moved from the back of my neck
to cup my cheek, his thumb caressing my skin. The other one moved to the small
of my back, pulling me tighter against him. He kissed me long, deep. It was
sinfully erotic feeling his bare skin under my fingers.
When
he tore his lips away, he looked in my eyes. My first instinct was to turn
away, but both his hands cupped my cheeks. He bent his head and grazed his lips
over mine before looking at me again.
“I’ve
wanted to do that since the first day I saw you. And each day I’ve known you
it’s been harder and harder not to.”
“Well,
what took you so long?”
Praise for the Amazon
Bestselling PODs:
"5 Stars! I
loved this book. I have been kind of bogged down with dystopias lately, but
this was amazing. It was so cool to see life before the 'event', to see Eva
wrestle with her choices and then, to watch her change as she lived inside the
PODs...Yes, there are zombies. Yes, there's a little romance. But I think, at its
heart, PODs is a coming of age story about Eva and how she grows from a girl
into a strong, decisive woman during this period of absolute destruction. And
Pickett writes it beautifully." ~ Sherry Ficklin, author of "Extracted"
"I was blown
away by this debut novel from Michelle Pickett! Rather than feeling like I was
reading a book, I actually sometimes felt like I was actually watching the
characters' lives progress; it was kind of weird! The emotions that Eva felt
were so raw and real, and I think Michelle really captured the emotions that
one would be feeling in a post-apocalyptic world...PODs may very well be one of
the next big things in YA, so I am very happy to have been one of the ones that
was part of the beginning of it all! Congrats Michelle on your YA debut and I
am looking forward to more by you! I gave PODs a
well-deserved 5/5 stars! " ~Phil book reviewer at
Stack of Hardbacks
“5
glowing, sparkling stars for this one!...I absolutely adored every character
Michelle introduces us to. This book isn't just about a romance, or two people
fighting some battle. This book allows us to get to know several, amazing,
diverse characters who all grab your heart (even a few who have attitude
issues). They all held such an important place in the story… Now for the plot.
Holy crap!... Michelle did a flippin' fantastic job giving us each piece of
this puzzle… I won't go into details about what happens after they are
removed from the POD but O-M-G! The action never stops…This book seriously
needs to be a movie. I could picture every detail and already see it playing
out on screen. PLEASE SOMEONE MAKE THIS HAPPEN!” ~Jessica of Total Bookaholic
Buy Links:
Also Available from:
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About the Author:
I'm a wife, mother, author, reader, although not always in that order. I write young adult urban fantasies, science/fiction and paranormal romances and have recently started dabbling in young adult contemporary romance. Reading was one of my earliest passions, writing soon followed. I began writing seriously during college where I graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in accounting. Why I chose a career that frowns on creativity remains a mystery.
I’m addicted to Reese’s peanut butter cups and eat way too many while I write, have an abnormal obsession with hoodies and can’t write without one, and I hate to cook, but love to watch cooking shows on television. An unabashed romantic, I love a swoon-worthy ending that will give me butterflies for days.
I wrote my debut young adult novel, PODs, in 2011. PODs, a science/fiction, post-apocalyptic romance, will be released June 4, 2013 through the amazing Spencer Hill Press. My second young adult title, Milayna, a paranormal romance, will release through Spencer Hill Press beginning in March 2014. Milayna is a standalone, with series potential. It’s meant to be a trilogy. The Infected, a PODs novel, will release November 2014. It is the second, and last, book in the PODs series.
I was born and raised in Flint, Michigan. I now reside in a small community outside Houston, Texas with my incredibly supportive, not to mention gorgeous, husband, three amazing school-aged children, a 125-pound lap dog, and a snooty cat.
Keep up-to-date with my current, future projects, appearances, and fun giveaways at www.michelle-pickett.com.
I always love to hear from readers, bloggers and other authors!
Find me here:
First place: Signed copy
of PODs, tote bag, and swag (US only see note for international)
Second place: Signed copy of PODs and swag (US only see note for international)
*International winners will receive a print copy of PODs only if www.Bookdepository.com
delivers to their country. Otherwise they will receive an e-book. Swag will not
be included.
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